Shelagh Derouin

Shelagh passed away peacefully at home in Victoria, BC on February 12, 2021. She was predeceased by her daughter Kathleen, her sister Doreen, and her parents, William and Dolly Hogg. Shelagh is survived by her son Tim Blanchard, her daughter Peggy Blanchard (Bob) her former husband and friend, David Derouin, and her sister Amber Harvey (Joel). She will be greatly missed by her loving grandchildren, Joanna (Justin) and Sarah (Julie), great-grandchildren Nya and Oliver, nephews and nieces and friends.

Born in Balcarres, Saskatchewan to Bill and Dolly Hogg, Shelagh moved to Nova Scotia with her parents and sister Doreen in 1940 because her father was stationed there for the duration of the war. She started school in Lower Onslow and had many happy memories of her childhood there including the birth of her baby sister Betty (Amber). In 1945 the family returned to Saskatchewan, first to Summerberry and then to Neudorf.

After high school, marriage and motherhood followed, and for 7 years Shelagh lived on a farm near Neudorf where she kept very busy raising three little children and doing all the chores that a woman on a simple prairie farm needed to do. Then in 1962 she moved next door to her parents in Regina where she and her family lived until 1978, when she moved to Victoria.

It was at the University of Regina that Shelagh earned her BSW while working as a secretary and office manager at Co-op Insurance Services. She used her education to work in the field of her choice in Regina and later in Victoria in both government and private agencies. She worked at Mobile Family Services in Regina and then in Victoria BC at Camosun College as an Advisor, at Salvation Army and VISTA Services for Seniors, counselling many people and making a difference in their lives. She also worked for Canadian Diabetes, Papa Geppetto Toy Makers, and Victoria Horticulture Centre for a few years.

Shelagh was devoted to her family. She was loved by many friends of her children. Her home was a happy, warm, welcoming place for all, including her cats. There was always a kitty by her side.

Shelagh loved to garden, can food, cook, bake, and feed people. She especially loved to prepare food at Christmas and make this a special time for family and friends. Every year she would beautifully decorate her house and Christmas tree. She would make fruit cakes, cookies, donuts, cabbage rolls and many other delicious foods. She would play music and sing carols whenever there were a few of us gathered.

Music was another great love, and she played the accordion and the guitar and had a beautiful singing voice. She could get a tune out of almost any instrument – mandolin, violin, banjo, piano, even bagpipes. Many a family gathering was made more enjoyable by her musical talent when she brought out an instrument and we all sang along.

Retirement and the isolation of the pandemic allowed Shelagh more time to read, which was one of her biggest passions throughout her whole life. As a child in Neudorf, she discovered the town’s seldom-used library and made it a regular haunt.  When an auction took place, she asked her parents to bid on a bookcase filled with books, and they did, and to her delight they won it. Shelagh was blessed with family, good friends and neighbours who shared her love of reading and often exchanged books with her.

She had a great sense of humour, often spoke her mind, and had a wonderful gift for making people feel better no matter how difficult a situation was. She was a Christian who  believed in action rather than just words. She lived her life simply and used every opportunity to give whatever she could.  She cared deeply about others especially those less fortunate.  As her health declined in the last few years, she bravely soldiered on living life to the fullest by knitting socks and toques for Our Place and the Dandelion Society, chatting with old friends and family, making new friends on Social Network, and devoting herself to caring for her cherished cats. She will be deeply missed by many people.

A Celebration of Shelagh’s Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 2PM. She will rest beside her beloved daughter Kathleen. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice.  Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallgardens.com